PORTFOLIO
Duke Perkins Library
Perkins Library – Duke University, Durham, NC
Duke University's Perkins Library was initially constructed in 1928, with additions made in both 1948 and 1968. Currently, the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library contains over 200,000 printed volumes, and over 9,500,000 items in manuscript and archival collections. The collections are all protected carefully under monitored environmental conditions.
The original 1928 and 1948 portions did not meet the ASHRAE Standard 90,1 for outside air requirements, nor did the HVAC system have the ability to control the pressurization of the building. The existing systems were stand alone for both utilities and building management. The necessary third renovation provided a state-of-the-art mechanical system, which was necessary in order to ensure the protection of the library's contents. The renovation included an addition of 72,000 square feet of new library building construction, the construction of a new 5,000 square foot atrium, and the complete renovation of the existing mechanical services used to connect to the campus' central chilled water and boiler plants.
The new Perkins Library addition has been constructed in accordance with LEED standards, and has been registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. The existing building was converted from electric head to a move efficient steam and from pneumatic controls to DDC controls in phases. Two custom air handling units and a series of VAVs provide 140,000 CFM of conditioned air to the new addition to a DDC control system, communicating with the existing campus Facility Management system.
